8o SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



two-spotted skipper (Atrytone bimacula) — a very inconspicuous and 

 decidedly rare species thrilling only to a specialist — which we took in 

 Augusta County. 



Strange varieties of butterflies are always interesting to get. This 

 summer Mr. Gottschalk sent us a red-banded hair-streak (Strymon 

 cecrops) in which all the bright red on the under side is replaced by 

 yellow. It is strange that in a butterfly so abundant as this no one has 

 previously reported this variety. This corresponds to the rare variety 

 of the American copper (Lycaena phlaeas hypophlaeas) in which the 

 red is replaced by yellow. We captured the first known Virginia speci- 

 men of this in Fairfax County on May 2. 



Much has been written on the changes in customs of human popu- 

 lations resulting from migrations from one region to another, but few 

 have paid any attention to changes in the habits of immigrant butter- 

 flies. Although it is true that most immigrant butterflies do not change 

 their habits — noticeably at least — a few of them do. 



Some years ago when the western orange clover butterfly (Colias 

 philodice eurytheme) was becoming established in Virginia, and it 

 and the native yellow form (C. p. philodice) were about equally com- 

 mon, it was noticed that although the males of the yellow one were 

 much given to sitting on mud in groups often of large size, their 

 orange relatives never did this. In the companies sitting on the mud 

 there were sometimes one or two individuals with a slight flush of 

 orange (the form ariadne), but never a full-colored orange one. 



During the past summer the immigrant from the West appears to 

 have learned the pleasures of sitting on mud and sucking up the mois- 

 ture. We noticed this in several places in the western portion of the 

 State. On August 14, 1937, near Moscow in Augusta County, we 

 saw about 35 males of the orange clover butterfly sitting in a com- 

 pact group on mud in a road, together with three males of the yellow 

 native and a few males of Terias lisa, these last at some distance from 

 the others. 



So far as this region is concerned, this is a rather remarkable change 

 in the habits of this butterfly. It appears to be becoming thoroughly 

 adjusted to its new environment and to be adopting the habits of its 

 local relative. 



There is much to learn about the butterflies of any region besides 

 the simple fact of their occurrence. 



